Today, March 4, 2021, has been designated as the second annual National “Slam the Scam” Day to raise public awareness of government imposter telephone scams, which continue to spread across the United States.
This is part of National Consumer Protection Week, February 28 – March 6.
In 2020 the Social Security Administration (SSA) received over 718,000 reports of Social Security-related telephone scams—with a total of $44.8 million reported lost[1]. Victims who lost money reported an average loss of $5,800. On National “Slam the Scam” Day, the SSA will work to spread the word far and wide about these scams—and encourage people to warn their friends and family to just Hang Up!
The Social Security Administration urges Americans to be very cautious of calls from a government agency telling you about a problem you don’t recognize. Real government officials will NEVER:
- Threaten arrest or legal action against you if you don’t immediately send money.
- Promise to increase your benefits or resolve identity theft if you pay a fee or move your money into a protected account.
- Require payment with retail gift card, wire transfer, internet currency, or by mailing
- Text or email you messages that contain your personal information.
If you ever owe money to Social Security, the agency will mail you a letter with payment options and appeal rights. Social Security doesn’t suspend Social Security numbers or demand secrecy from you to resolve a problem—ever.
Helpful Links
- SSA Scam Awareness page
- SSA Fraud Prevention and Reporting page has additional scam resources.
[1] https://blog.ssa.gov/inspector-general-announces-2nd-national-slam-the-scam-day/